Los Angeles City Council names Sharon Tso as top adviser

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday formally approved the appointment of Sharon Tso as its top policy adviser to fill the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Chief Legislative Analyst Gerry Miller.

Tso, who will be the department’s first woman and first Asian-American, has worked for the city for 32 years — more than 20 of them in the CLA office. Most recently, she has overseen the council’s review of the city budget.

She currently serves as executive officer of the CLA. In the new position, she will be paid $283,466 a year.

The appointment takes effect Aug. 29. In the interim, Tso will begin envisioning changes for the office, but she’ll hold off on any major shifts until formally taking over.

Council President Herb Wesson and Councilwoman Nury Martinez nominated Tso for the post. “She is someone who has the respect of all of us,” Martinez said.

Chinese-American Tso is a native Angeleno who now lives in Glendale. She is a graduate of USC, with a bachelor’s in biological sciences.

“I am very excited and gratified to have this opportunity,” Tso said succinctly.